Rules of Conduct

The following Rules of Conduct are sportsmanship guidelines utilized to maintain a positive atmosphere within all programs/sports/athletic leagues sponsored by the Durham Parks and Recreation Department. These rules will be applied to all programs/sports/athletic leagues in all age groups. Ignorance of these rules will not be considered as an acceptable excuse for violations.

**Participant will be defined in the Code of Conduct as any team member, staff, player, official, coach, spectator, program participant or parent.

General Information

  • The Rules of Conduct will be in effect before, during and after each game/match/practice beginning with departmental sponsored preseason practices and continuing through the conclusion of league/tournament play. All athletic special events will be governed by these rules. These guidelines will apply to all events conducted by the department regardless of whether these events are on city-owned property or rental facilities.
  • Each league in each sport will have league rules to meet requirements of that particular sport. These league rules will not be considered separate from the Rules of Conduct and violations of league rules can result in suspension.
  • Teams(s) and/or individual(s) suspended as a result of infractions of the Rules of Conduct will not be given refunds.
  • Any departmental staff member has the authority to eject a participant from a Parks and Recreation event or property (for further reference see The Code of the City of Durham, Sec. 13- 16, Ejection of disorderly person...).
  • As determined by the Division Head, repeat offenders of any of the rules of conduct are subject to further or longer suspensions or may be banned from the program and facility.
  • Violations of the Rules of Conduct at the conclusion of a program may result in a penalty application in succeeding programs and/or seasons.
  • Penalties applied for any situation or circumstance not specifically covered in these Rules of Conduct will be left to the discretion of the Division Head.
  • Participants who are asked to leave a facility/program must leave in an expedient manner (two minutes or less is considered expedient). Failure to do so will result in further consequences. If a participant does not leave the facility, police will be called to escort the participant out of the facility.
  • Participants who violate items 7 through 12 within the Code of Conduct will be required to go through the Durham Parks and Recreation’s procedure for reinstatement. Participants who violate other items within the Code of Conduct may be subjected to a reinstatement procedure at the discretion of the Division Head.
  • Along with this Code of Conduct, please be aware that each facility has rules that must be abided by as well. Please check with staff at the facility for these rules.

Rules of Conduct

  1. All participants shall abide by a staff and/or official’s decision.
  2. All participants must refrain from all objectionable demonstrations of dissent at an official’s decision (i.e., kicking or throwing a ball, bat, or equipment, speaking loudly to an official/staff, making gestures toward an official/staff, etc.).
  3. All participants must refrain from using unnecessary roughness against the body and person of an opposing player during the course of play of the game.
  4. All participants must refrain from using profane, obscene, or vulgar language. (For further reference, - see The Code of the City of Durham, Sec. 12 - 19, Profane, etc., language) 
  5. Taunting, mocking, and/or harassment of participants will not be allowed. DURHAM PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARMENT - RULES OF CONDUCT - Page 2 of 3 Revised October 5, 2017
  6. Participant acts in an irrational manner, makes a public spectacle or nuisance of themselves or behaves in a manner that disrupts or infringes on other participants before, during or after the scheduled program.
  7. Verbal abuse of the participants will not be allowed.
  8. Profane, obscene, or vulgar language used maliciously toward another participant will not be allowed. (For further reference, see The Code of the City of Durham, Sec. 12 – 19, Profane, etc., language)
  9. The drinking or possession of alcoholic beverages will not be allowed at Parks and Recreation Department events or property. (For further reference, see The Code of the City of Durham, section 12 – 16, Alcoholic beverages – Possession and consumption.
  10. Participants are not allowed to attend any Parks and Recreation event or property while intoxicated. (For further reference see The Code of the City of Durham, Sec. 12 – 17, Public drunkenness...).
  11. Firearms, knives, or other weapons are not allowed at Parks and Recreation events or property. (For further reference, see The Code of the City of Durham, Sec. 12 – 22, Weapons… in public parks)
  12. All participants that enter the program/league and confront and/or make contact (i.e. cursing, shoving, pushing, etc.) with a staff, participant or official will be suspended from the league/program and any Parks and Recreation related facilities for any practice, game, or activity for a minimum of one calendar year from the date of incident.

Penalty for Items 1-6

The participant may be ejected from the game/program/facility and suspended from the next game/program date. A warning will not have to precede the ejection. Once the investigation has been completed and the information reviewed the division head may apply a further suspension to the violation.

Penalty for Items 7 & 8

The participant will be ejected from the game/program/facility and suspended at a minimum from the next three games/program dates. Should the violation occur with less than three games/program dates remaining then the suspension will be applied to those remaining games/program dates and will be carried over to the next league/program season. Once the investigation has been completed and the information reviewed the division head may apply a further suspension to the violation.

Penalty for Items 9-11

The participant will be ejected from the game/program/facility and suspended at the minimum for the remainder of the season/program or if circumstances warrant, be suspended from further leagues/programs offered by the Parks and Recreation Department. For violations of the above mentioned City Ordinances and laws, legal authorities will be contacted. Once the investigation has been completed and the information reviewed the division head may apply a further suspension to the violation.

 

Application of the Rules of Conduct

  • Upon knowledge of a violation the departmental program staff or designee will investigate the violation. This information will be presented to the division head who along with the departmental program staff or designee will apply the appropriate penalty in compliance with the Rules of Conduct.
  • Participants in violation of the Code of Conduct will be notified and asked to provide a written statement regarding the details of the incident in question, as well as their involvement or participation in said incident within the next 2 calendar days. Failure to provide a written statement is viewed as an admission of guilt and will be grounds for suspension.
  • The participant will be mailed and/or emailed a form letter describing the violation and appropriate penalty. Parent/guardian will be mailed and/or emailed this letter for youth violators relating to suspensions.
  • If the individual receiving the penalty wishes to appeal the ruling, they may do so by submitting a written request to the Division Head stating the reason for appeal. An appeal must be received by the Division Head within seven calendar days from the date on the form letter.
  • Formal appeal meetings involving the participants, officials, supervisor, and Parks and Recreation staff will only be conducted for seasonal or longer suspensions.
  • Withholding penalties pending an appeal decision will not be automatic. When a request for withholding of penalties is made verbally and granted, the requested party will have 24 hours to submit a written appeal and failure to do so within this 24-hour time period will result in all penalties being reapplied.
  • If the individual receiving a ruling from the formal appeal meeting wishes to pursue another appeal they may do so by submitting a final appeal to the Director of Parks and Recreation within 24 hours of the previous notice of ruling.